Overbed table

ABSTRACT

An overbed table which includes a generally horizontal upper table member, a base configured for resting on a floor surface and a height adjustable support assembly mounted between the table member and the base. A gas spring is provided interiorly of the height adjustable support assembly and includes a cylinder mounted to a lower frame support member of the height adjustable support assembly and an elongate rod mounted to the upper frame support member of the height adjustable support assembly. The gas spring is configured for non-movement of the elongate rod relative to the cylinder when in a locked condition and for movement of the elongate rod relative to the cylinder only when in an unlocked condition. A lock release mechanism is provided on the elongate rod adjacent a distal end thereof. A shroud member encloses the upper and lower frame support members and is fastened to the table member and includes thereon a manually manipulatable handle movable between first and second positions, the handle including a link interconnecting the handle and the lock release mechanism. The base is of a U shape and has a low height profile on the legs thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an overbed table and, more particularly, to an overbed table having a low height profile base and a handle slidably mounted on a shroud enclosing the height adjustable support assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Overbed table assemblies are known in the art and representative examples of some of them are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,775,234, 6,397,761 and 6,484,648. As hospital beds become more complex, overbed tables used in association therewith often encounter obstructions on the understructure of the bed that prevents the base from moving under the bed to enable the table top to be oriented over the top of the mattress and generally the lap of the onboard patient. In addition, efforts to integrate the aesthetic appearance of the overbed table with the remaining furniture within a hospital setting has been less than acceptable.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an overbed table assembly which has a low height profile base enabling it to easily move to positions beneath a hospital bed and to avoid objections on the bed due to the low profile configuration.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an overbed table assembly, as aforesaid, wherein a shroud encloses the height adjustable support assembly extending between the table top and the base to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the region of the overbed table assembly whereat the height adjustable support assembly is located.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an overbed table assembly, as aforesaid, wherein the handle is slidably mounted on the shroud with minimal space existing through which the interior of the operating mechanisms for raising and lowering the table top are visible.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an overbed table assembly, as aforesaid, wherein the base is composed of two components, one on top of the other with each thereof being configured to operatively cooperate with the other to enhance the strength of the low height profile and to prevent flexing thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects and purposes of the invention are met by providing an overbed table which includes a generally horizontal upper table member, a base configured for resting on a floor surface and a height adjustable support assembly mounted between the table member and the base. A gas spring is provided interiorly of the height adjustable support assembly and includes a cylinder mounted to a lower frame support member of the height adjustable support assembly and an elongate rod mounted to the upper frame support member of the height adjustable support assembly. The gas spring is provided for biasing the upper frame support member upwardly with respect to the lower frame support member and additionally is configured so that the elongate rod cannot move downwardly relative to the cylinder when in a locked condition and for free movement of the elongate rod up or down relative to the cylinder only when in an unlocked condition. A lock release mechanism is provided on the elongate rod adjacent a distal end thereof. A shroud member encloses the upper and lower frame support members and is fastened to the table member and includes thereon a manually manipulatable handle movable between first and second positions, the handle including a link interconnecting the handle and the lock release mechanism. The base is of a U shape and has a low height profile on the legs thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with overbed table assemblies of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an overbed table assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the base for the overbed table;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the overbed table assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10, but with the handle in a second position thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words “up”, “down”, “right” and “left” will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “in” and “out” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will include derivatives and words of similar import.

An overbed table assembly 20 embodying the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a base 21 having plural wheels 22 configured to rest on a floor surface. In this particular embodiment, the wheels 22 are each supported for a caster movement about a vertically upright axis A (FIG. 3). The overbed table assembly 20 also includes a generally horizontal upper table member 23 having an upwardly facing surface 24 thereon. A height adjustable support assembly 26 is mounted between the table member 23 and the base 21. The features associated with the height adjustable support assembly 26 will be explained in more detail below.

Referring to FIG. 2, the base 21 is composed of two components, namely, a U-shaped hollow profile member 27 and a U-shaped cover member 28. The U-shaped hollow profile member 27 has a bight section 29 and two legs 31 and 32 which extend generally parallel to each other and away from the bight section 29. Furthermore, the bight section 29 and each of the legs 31 and 32 have a common top wall 33 from which depends sidewalls 34. The downwardly facing edge 36 of each of the sidewalls 34 has spaced notches 37 as is also illustrated in FIG. 4. A bottom wall 38 is provided and closes off the opening into the inverted U shape defined by the top wall 33 and sidewalls 34 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The bottom wall includes a plurality of spaced tabs 39 along the outer edges thereof and which are configured to be received into the respective notches 37. The bottom wall 38 is weldably secured to the sidewall edges 36. Furthermore, each of the tabs 39 is weldably secured in place in each of the respective notches 37. Thus, any tendency of the legs 31 and 32 to flex will be resisted not only by the interference of the tabs 39 and notches 37 but also by the welding.

The bottom wall 38 of the bight section 29 has a plurality of holes 41 therethrough and in the central region thereof. These holes 41 are also shown in FIG. 7. The top wall 33 of the bight section 29 has a plurality of holes 42 therethrough, the holes 42 being each coaxial with a respective hole 41 in the bottom wall 38. The diameter of the holes 42 is greater than the diameter of the holes 41. A spacer sleeve 43 is received in each of the holes 42 with the lower end thereof resting on the top surface of the bottom wall 38. A further hole 44 is provided in the top wall 33 approximately equidistantly spaced from each of the respective holes 42. Each of the legs 31 and 32 have a plurality of holes 46 in the top wall 33.

The U-shaped cover member 28 is of a unitary synthetic resin construction having a bight section 47 and two generally parallel legs 48 and 49 extending away therefrom. The entire U-shaped cover member 28 has an inverted U-shaped cross section throughout defined by a top wall 51 and sidewalls 52 which depend downwardly therefrom. A plurality of webs 53 unitarily interconnect the undersides of the top wall 51 and each of the respective sidewalls 52 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The webs 53 are notched as at 54 (FIGS. 6 and 8) to facilitate reception thereof of each of the respective bight section 29 and legs 31 and 32 of the U-shaped hollow profile member 27 into the notches 54. Each of the webs 53 having the notches 54 formed therein rest on the top wall 33 of the U-shaped hollow profile member 27.

The underside of the top wall 51 of the U-shaped cover member 28 includes plural integral hollow post-like members 56 (FIG. 3) that are each aligned with a respective one of the holes 46 in the top wall 33 of the U-shaped hollow profile member 27 and are received therethrough. A fastener schematically illustrated as at 57 is received through a corresponding hole in the bottom wall 38 of the U-shaped hollow profile member 27 and into the interior of each of the respective hollow posts 56 to facilitate securement of the U-shaped cover member 28 to the U-shaped hollow profile member 27.

The U-shaped cover member 28 has in the bight section 47 a plurality of holes 58 therethrough that are configured to align with each of the respective spacer sleeves 43 and as depicted in FIG. 7. Each of the holes 58 opens into a raised embossment 59 which, in this particular embodiment, has an oval shape. A generally rectangular or square opening 61 extends through the central portion of the embossment 59. A shelf 62, oriented in a plane located below a top surface of the embossment 59, encircles the embossment 59 for reasons which will be explained below.

A hollow post 63 (FIG. 5) is provided and has an outer wall 64 that conforms to the oval configuration of the upwardly facing surface of the shelf 62. Extending radially inwardly from the outer wall 64 are a plurality of flanges 66, the inner ends of which are integrally mated with a rectangular or square cross sectioned tube 67 which defines a lower frame support member. In this particular embodiment, the corners of the rectangular-shaped tube 67 are the locations whereat the webs 66 are integrally attached thereto. Thus, openings 68, 69, 70 and 71 are formed between the outer walls of the square or rectangular-shaped tube 67 and the inner surface of the outer wall 64. These openings 68-71 receive therein the sections of the embossment 59 illustrated in FIG. 2 when the bottom end of the hollow post 64 rests on the shelf 62. Each of the flanges 66 has outwardly extending therefrom and into a respective one of the openings 68 and 70 a pair of spaced walls 72 and 73 defining a circular opening 74 therebetween. The axes of each of the respective openings 64 is coaxial with the interior of the hollow spacer sleeves 43 and are internally threaded adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof so that a threaded fastener 76 can be inserted through holes in the bottom wall 38 of the U-shape profile 27 and through the interior of the respective spacer sleeves 43 and become threadedly engaged with the interior wall surface of each of the openings 74 to effect a securement of the hollow post 64 to the bight section 47 of the U-shaped cover.

As shown in FIG. 10, an elongate hollow bushing 77 is received into the upper end of the square or rectangular-shaped tube 67 inside the hollow post 63. The upper end of the elongate bushing 77 has a plurality of outwardly extending flanges 78 (see also FIG. 11) which have through holes 79 at the outer ends of each thereof. Each of the holes 79 is axially aligned with respective openings 74 (FIG. 5) on the interior of the hollow post 63 and are configured to receive fasteners therethrough to facilitate a fastening of the elongate bushing 77 to the upper end of the hollow post 63.

FIG. 10 also illustrates a rectangular or square-shaped elongate tube 81 which defines an upper frame support member. The upper end of the tube 81 is fastened to the underside of the upper table member 23. The length of the tube 81 is sufficient to extend to and engage the top wall 33 of the U-shaped hollow profile member 27 as illustrated in FIG. 6 and when the table member 23 is in its lowermost position. In this particular embodiment, a plurality of through holes 82 are provided in the tube 81 at a location spaced slightly upwardly from the lower end as depicted in FIG. 6. A cup-shaped bushing 83 mounts over the exterior of the lower end of the tube 81 so that the bottom wall of the bushing is oriented between the lower end of the tube 81 and the top wall 33 of the profile member 27. The sidewalls 84 of the bushing 83 are slit to facilitate relative movement with respect to one another. The sidewalls 84 have enlargements 86 provided adjacent the upper ends thereof to facilitate an elastic urging of the enlargements 86 into the holes 82. The walls 84 of the bushing 83 are oriented between the exterior wall of the tube 81 and the interior wall of the tube 67. The bushing 83 also has an opening in the bottom wall thereof. The tube 81 is configured to slide up and down inside the tube 67, the respective bushings 77 and 83 being made of a low friction material and maintain a snug sliding relation between the respective tubes 67 and 81. A section of the wall of the tube 81 is cut open as at 88 (FIG. 10) adjacent the upper end thereof.

A gas spring 88 is mounted internally of the tube 81 as depicted in FIGS. 6 and 8. The gas spring 88 has a cylinder housing 89 and a reciprocating rod 91 which reciprocates with respect to the cylinder housing 89. The lower end of the cylinder housing 89 has an extension 92 which is received in the hole 44 in the top wall 33 of the profile member 27. The distal end of the rod 91 as illustrated in FIG. 10 has a reciprocally movably supported valve actuator member 93 thereat that is configured, when depressed, to unlock the elongate rod 91 from the cylinder housing 89 to enable the gas pressure inside the cylinder housing 89 to be compressed and to enable an urging of the elongate rod 91 downwardly lengthwise thereof. When pressure on the valve actuator member 93 is removed, the elongate rod 91 will again become locked to the cylinder housing 89 to prevent downward movement of the elongate rod. The gas spring 88 is of a conventional design, a representative example being Model No. 1549SF available from Stabilos in Germany. Thus, further discussion about the characteristics of the gas spring 88 are believed to be unnecessary.

A head piece 94 is mounted to the interior of the tube 81 by a pin 96 and adjacent the upper end. The head piece includes a socket 97 into which is received the distal end of the elongate rod 91. A laterally extending opening 95 extends through the head piece 94 and intersects the bottom end of the socket 97 to orient the valve actuator member 93 within the opening 95. A two arm link member 99 is pivotally supported adjacent a mid-point between the two arms as at fulcrum 101 in the opening 95 with the end of one arm operatively engaging the valve actuator member 93 to facilitate reciprocative operation thereof in response to a pivoting of the link 99. The other arm of the two arm link 99 extends through the opening 98 in the wall of the tube 81. The two arms form an obtuse angle of 155° to 165°, the preferred angle being 159°. In the alternative, the link 99 could be Z-shaped and a theoretical line intersecting the distal end of each horizontally extending arm thereof would form an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder housing 89, namely, the angle being 15° to 25°, the preferred angle being 21°.

A shroud 102 (FIG. 1) is provided and has an oval configuration conforming to the oval configuration of the hollow post 63. As depicted in FIG. 5, the interior of the hollow post 63 has circumferentially spaced embossments 103 which slidingly engage the outer surface of the hollow post 63. The upper end of the shroud 102 has a radially outwardly extending flange 104 which is secured to the underside of the upper table member 23. Thus, as the upper table member 23 moves up and down, the shroud 102 will slide up and down relative to the hollow post 63. The hollow shroud 102 has a sufficient length such that when the upper table member 23 is in its lowermost position illustrated in FIG. 1, the bottom end of the shroud 102 is oriented about at the plane of the shelf 62 on the bight section 47 of the U-shaped cover member 28.

An opening 105 is formed in the wall of the shroud 102 adjacent the upper end thereof as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 10. The opening so formed defines a pair of vertically upright laterally spaced edges 106 (FIG. 11) and a bottom edge 107. A handle 108 is mounted into the opening 105 and has on laterally opposite sides thereof guide tracks 109 which receive therein the edges 106 as depicted in FIG. 11. As a result, the handle 108 is supported for vertical movement between the position illustrated in FIG. 10 and the position illustrated in FIG. 12. The handle 108 has a recess 111 therein on an outwardly facing side thereof into which the distal ends of the user's fingers may be placed. The upper wall 112 of the recess 111 is configured to conform to individual ones of the distal ends of the respective fingers as depicted in FIG. 1. On the top side of the upper wall 112 of the recess 111 there is provided an abutment 113 on which is engaged the aforesaid opposite end of the link 99. As a result, when the handle 108 is moved from a first position illustrated in FIG. 10 to a second position illustrated in FIG. 12, the abutment 113 will effect a clockwise movement (FIGS. 10 and 12) of the link 99 from a first position to a second position to cause an activation of the valve actuator member 93 to unlock the elongate rod 91 from the cylinder housing 89 so that the pressure on the inside of the cylinder housing 89 can act to sufficiently counterbalance the weight of the upper table member 23 to enable the user to easily lift and raise the upper table member 23 to a selected height, at which time pressure on the handle is released and gravity and a back force on the valve actuator member 93 will urge the handle 108 back to the initial first position thereof illustrated in FIG. 10. Upward travel of the upper table member 23 will be limited by the engagement of the upper edge 114 of the cup-shaped bushing 83 with the lower edge 116 of the elongate bushing 77.

As is illustrated in FIG. 11, the contour of the handle 108, particularly the leftward facing outer contour, matches the outer circumferential contour of the shroud 102. Furthermore, the handle 108 has a top to bottom dimension that corresponds closely to the top to bottom dimension of the opening 105 with a gap 117 existing between the upper edge of the handle 108 and the immediate underside of the upper table member 23 in order to accommodate the movement of the handle 108 between its two respective positions. The gap 117 is oriented in a way that it is generally not visible to the attendant operating the table top. As a result, the overall outer exterior of the shroud 102 and the outer appearance of the conforming handle 108 is aesthetically pleasing.

As has been noted above, the top to bottom dimension of the legs of the U-shaped base 21 is small. The top to bottom dimension of the respective legs is deemed to be particularly unique. In this particular embodiment, the spacing between the floor and the bottom wall 38 of the U-shaped profile member 27 is generally within the range of 35% to 50% of a top to bottom dimension of a combination of an assembly of the U-shaped hollow profile member 27 and the U-shaped cover member 28 in a region adjacent the distal end of each leg of the base, particularly adjacent each leg oriented wheel 22. It is preferable that the aforementioned range of 35% to 50% be maintained from the distal ends of the legs of the base to at least half of a length of the base. The preferred embodiment includes the range being 40% to 45%. Furthermore, due to the strength characteristic of the combination of the construction of the U-shaped hollow profile member 27 and the U-shaped cover member 28, the top to floor surface of an assembly of the hollow profile member 27 and the cover member 28 in a region adjacent each leg wheel is within a range of 25% to 35% greater than a diameter of the leg wheel. In this particular embodiment, the diameter of all of the wheels on the base, including the leg wheels is less than two inches, a preferable diameter being 1.46 inches and the dimension between the top surface of the cover 28 and the floor surface is 2.1 inches. Such wheels are available under Model No. TUK229-24X1B, available from Gross Stabil in Germany.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention. 

1. An overbed table, comprising: a generally horizontal upper table member having an upwardly facing surface thereon; a base configured for resting on a floor surface; a height adjustable support assembly mounted between said table member and said base and comprising an upper frame support member having a hollow interior and one end attached to said table member, a lower frame support member having a hollow interior and one end attached to said base, said upper and lower frame support members being vertically slidable with respect to each other and one within the other; a gas spring having a cylinder mounted to said lower frame support member and an elongate rod mounted to said upper frame support member and configured for reciprocation with respect to said cylinder for biasing said upper frame support member upwardly with respect to said lower frame support member and additionally configured for non-movement of said elongate rod in a downward direction relative to said cylinder when in a locked condition and for free up or down movement of said elongate rod relative to said cylinder only when in an unlocked condition, said cylinder and said elongate rod being oriented inside said hollow interiors of said upper and lower frame support members, said elongate rod having thereon a lock release mechanism adjacent a distal end thereof configured to effect an unlocking of said elongate rod to facilitate movement thereof relative to said cylinder; a shroud member separate from said upper and lower frame support members fastened to said table member and enshrouding said upper and lower frame support members; and a manually manipulative handle mounted on said shroud for movement between first and second positions, said handle including a link interconnecting said handle and said lock release mechanism, said first position corresponding to said locked condition and said second position corresponding to said unlocked condition.
 2. The overbed table according to claim 1, wherein said shroud includes an elongate guide, said handle being supported on said guide and for movement thereon between first and second positions.
 3. The overbed table according to claim 2, wherein said handle includes a body, said body having guide tracks thereon operatively engaging said elongate guide on said shroud, said body further having a finger receiving cavity therein located intermediate said guide tracks and opening outwardly of said shroud.
 4. The overbed table according to claim 3, wherein said finger receiving cavity has a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls, an upper wall, a lower wall and a back wall connected to each of said sidewalls, said upper wall and said lower wall, said upper wall being configured to conform to individual ones of respective fingers of an operator.
 5. The overbed table according to claim 2, wherein said shroud is made of a generally uniformly thick material and has an opening through a section thereof, opposing edges of said opening defining said elongate guide, said handle including a generally U-shaped track on opposite sides thereof slidably receiving in each thereof said elongate guide.
 6. The overbed table according to claim 1, wherein said link is movably supported at one end on a distal end of said elongate rod and terminates at an opposite end in a contact surface engaging said handle, so that movement of said handle from said first position to said second position will effect a movement of said link to change the condition of said cylinder from locked to unlocked.
 7. The overbed table according to claim 1, wherein said base is U-shaped and includes a U-shaped hollow profile having a top wall, sidewalls and a bottom wall as well as a U-shaped cover member fixedly secured to said hollow profile and having a top wall and sidewalls depending from edges of said top wall to cover said top wall and said sidewalls of said hollow profile, said cover member including plural internal webs interconnecting said top wall and said sidewalls thereof, selected ones of said webs having a notch provided therein to receive said hollow profile, at least one edge of said notch resting on said top wall of said hollow profile.
 8. The overbed table according to claim 7, wherein said cover member is fixedly secured to said hollow profile at least at plural spaced locations along each leg of said cover member and said hollow profile so that any tendency of said legs to flex will apply a compressive force to said cover member thereby resisting the tendency of said legs of said hollow profile to flex.
 9. The overbed table according to claim 7, wherein said base is movably supported on plural wheels, at least one leg wheel at a distal end of each leg of said U-shaped base, a top to bottom dimension of a combination of an assembly of said hollow profile and cover member in a region adjacent each leg wheel being less than a diameter of said leg wheel.
 10. The overbed table according to claim 9, wherein said top to bottom dimension is maintained from said distal ends of said legs of said base to about half of a length of said base.
 11. The overbed table according to claim 7, wherein said base is movably supported on plural wheels, at least one leg wheel at a distal end of each leg of said U-shaped base, a top to floor surface of an assembly of said hollow profile and cover member in a region adjacent each leg wheel being within a range of 25% to 35% greater than a diameter of said leg wheel.
 12. The overbed table according to claim 11, wherein said top to floor surface dimension is maintained from said distal ends of said legs of said base to about half of a length of said base.
 13. The overbed table according to claim 11, wherein said range is 29% to 31%.
 14. The overbed table according to claim 13, wherein said top to floor surface dimension is maintained from said distal ends of said legs of said base to about half of a length of said base.
 15. The overbed table according to claim 7, wherein said base is movably supported on plural wheels, at least one leg wheel at a distal end of each leg of said U-shaped base, a distance between a floor surface on which said plural wheels rest and an underside of said base is generally within range of 35% to 50% of a top to bottom dimension of a combination of an assembly of said hollow profile and cover member in a region adjacent each leg wheel.
 16. The overbed table according to claim 15, wherein said distance between the floor surface and said underside of said base is maintained from said distal ends of said legs of said base to at least half of a length of said base.
 17. The overbed table according to claim 15, wherein said range is 40% to 45%.
 18. The overbed table according to claim 17, wherein said distance between the floor surface and said underside of said base is maintained from said distal ends of said legs of said base to at least half of a length of said base.
 19. The overbed table according to claim 7, wherein said sidewalls of said U-shaped hollow profile have at edges thereof remote from the top wall notches at spaced intervals along the length of the sidewalls, said bottom wall of said U-shaped hollow profile having tabs configured to be received into the respective notches, said bottom wall and said tabs thereon being weldably secured to the edges of said sidewalls remote from said top wall.
 20. An overbed table, comprising: a generally horizontal upper table member having an upwardly facing surface thereon; a base configured for resting on a floor surface; a height adjustable support assembly mounted between said table member and said base; wherein said base has a U-shaped configuration with said height adjustable support assembly being mounted on a bight section of the base; and wherein said base is movably supported on plural wheels, at least one leg wheel at a distal end of each leg of said U-shaped base, a distance between a floor surface on which said plural wheels rest and an underside of said base being generally within the range of 35% to 50% of a top to bottom dimension of said base in a region adjacent each leg wheel.
 21. The overbed table according to claim 20, wherein said U-shaped base includes a U-shaped hollow profile having a top wall, sidewalls and a bottom wall as well as U-shaped cover member fixedly secured to said hollow profile and having a top wall and sidewalls depending from edges of said top wall to cover said top wall and said sidewalls of said hollow profile, said cover member including plural internal webs interconnecting said top wall and said sidewalls thereof, selected ones of said webs having a notch provided therein to receive said hollow profile, at least one edge of said notch resting on said top wall of said hollow profile.
 22. The overbed table according to claim 21, wherein said cover member is fixedly secured to said hollow profile at least at plural spaced locations along each leg of said cover member and said hollow profile so that any tendency of said legs to flex will apply a compressive force to said cover member thereby resisting the tendency of said legs of said hollow profile to flex.
 23. The overbed table according to claim 20, wherein an outer diameter of at least said leg wheels is equal to or less than two inches.
 24. The overbed table according to claim 23, wherein an outer diameter of at least said leg wheels is equal to 1.46 inches.
 25. An overbed table, comprising: a generally horizontal upper table member having an upwardly facing surface thereon; a base configured for resting on a floor surface; a height adjustable support assembly mounted between said table member and said base; wherein said base has a U-shaped configuration with said height adjustable support assembly being mounted on a bight section of the base; and wherein said height adjustable support assembly comprises an upper frame support member having a hollow interior and one end attached to said table member, a unitary lower frame support member having first and second hollow profiles one inside the other which are attached at one end to said base, said first and second profiles being interconnected by plural webs, said upper frame support member being vertically slidably supported inside said hollow interior of said inside hollow profile.
 26. The overbed table according to claim 25, wherein said upper and lower frame support members are elliptical in cross section, a plane containing a major axis of the ellipse extending perpendicular to a vertical plane containing a longitudinal axis of a leg of said U-shaped base. 